Stranger tips waiter $750 so he could return home to Ireland for the holidays

HOUSTON — A Texas waiter is getting his holiday wish thanks to the generosity of a stranger.

It’s been two long years since 22-year-old Ben Millar has been back to see his family in Northern Ireland, according to ABC News. He’s been anxious to get home to introduce them to the family he’s created in the states — his girlfriend, Taryn Keith, is expecting their first child.

So when a customer named Jeffrey sat at one of his tables last weekend and told Millar he frequently visited Ireland with his own family, Millar couldn’t help but feel a connection.

“I jokingly said, ‘I wish I could go back that often to see my family,’” Millar told ABC. “I thought nothing of it, and we all joked after.”

As the night progressed, Millar continued to chat with Jeffrey and his family as he waited on them. When they finally paid their check and left the restaurant, Millar was shocked to open the bill to find $750 written on the tip line.

A note on the check read, “hopefully, this can get you back to Ireland for the holidays,” Millar told ABC. He said after polling other restaurant employees, this tip was the largest one anyone had ever seen.

Millar said he plans to return to Ireland once his baby is born so he can introduce his family to the newest member. He said he’ll forever be grateful to the stranger who gave him the gift of home.

“I also hope I can reach out to Jeffrey so he knows how much I appreciate it,” he said. “It means a lot to me, but more to my family back home who will benefit from seeing me again.”